Automatic salad chopper and mixer



pt. 8, 1953 M. M. ALEXANDER 2,651,343

AUTOMATIC SALAD CHOPPER AND MIXER Filed Nov. 10, 1951 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 25 INVENTOR. Mary f7. 14 Azammer Sep 8. 1953 M. M. ALEXANDER 2,651,343

7 AUTOMATIC SAL AD CHOPPER AND. MIXER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1951 f INVENTOR. my ZA/exarmer A TTOENEY,

Patented Sept. 8, I953 t ,a;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,651,313" I AUTOMATIC SALAD oHorrER MIXER. Mary M. Alexander, Los Angelesfcalif'. Appli a ion N v m 19 Serial 255,7 12 Claims. (01. 146%64) l 2 h in n relates to an automatic s la valve closed and the chopping head in its elevated ehoppinganq mixing machine. p it on- More specifically, the present invention perg Fig. is'a fragmentaryi'l'ertical section viewing 'tains to a motor driven device which, while n the structure of Fig; 4 from right to left, as indiol ieration, continuouslyreciprocates achoppin 5 cated by he rr w- 5 o e a te View, Parts member and simultaneously intermittentlydisbeingshownin elevation er-see minor quantiti of a salad d n into Re e e in detail. to t drawings the mass of edible material being chopped.- zontal base plate 7 is shown mounted in an overone object of the invention is greatly to lessen ly ng relation to an otherwise o'pe'n topped chopthe time requires-and labor expended hitherto 10 ping bowl 8,- this plate forming part of a mecharequned in making salads, not only for home use, nism supporting structure presently to be debut more particularly for being served in restauscribed. Said base igilat'cl is shown as being of rants,- hotels and boarding houses. M an elongated, generally rectangular shape and Another object is to provide a means for ch0p having at one end dewnturned corner portions 9 ping salads to a more uniform degree of fineness which form ears the end portions of which are than results when the operation is performed by inwardly directed to underlie the rim IU of said manually operating a'chopp'ing instrument. bowl, the corner portions H of the opposite end :A more specific object is to provide a compact of said plate being deflected so as to extend vertiand improved'assembly of motor driven partsin cally -downward and each carrying a clamping a chopping device, which includes a cam and 00- screw I2. Said plate 1 is shown provided with operating linkage, capable of chopping the edible a centraLlcircular aperture I3. vegetable and at the same time automatically Said base plate 1 forms th lower partof a mixing thereinto the desired'quantity of'seasonsupporting structure which includesa mounting ing or dressing, the latter being admittedthrough plate, l5 secured,for example, by weld lsw t a valve intermittently opened for short intervals said baserplate 1. At one end said plate l5 carby th mechanism. ries a motor. l6 provided with a timer I511, and By this invention there is provideda new and at its, opposite end carries (shown as integral advantageous assembly of co-operating gears and therewith); a container 11 provided to contain levers arranged in so compact a manner that the olive oil or condiment'foi' salad chopped in the whole assembly; together with a motor to transbOWI 01) Which may contain any other desired mit therethrough, may be mounted upon the modifying substance in liquid form,

cover of' a moderately sized container of the ma- The aforesaid opening I3 through the base terial to be chopped. plate 1 afl'ordsroom for the lower part of a hub- Other objects, advantages and features of in-- I like bearingenlargement 20 formed in the mountvention will hereinafter appear, ing plate l5, this enlargement'being interiorly Referring to the accompanying drawings, shaped to slidably and rotatably contain a rod 2| which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the that'reciprooates therein, said ro invention, 7 i t Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device with aside squarein cross section. portion brokenoif to contract the view,- the plane Atits lower end said IOd"2| has a chopping of section being indicated by line -l on Fig; 2. head securedthereto. This chopping may be Fig. 2 is a vertical midsection of the deviceythe of a'conventional character; and is shown carchopping headbeing shown in its lowest position ,ryinga a single cutting blade 25' of a sufficient in full IHlGS' and in its uppermost position in length to insuresufiicient chopping and mixing dotted lines. I 5 of the salad 26 or other material being chopped.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectionon The already mentioned ii I line a- -a of Fig. 2. Y 22 of the red 2| 'is' shownex'tending along the Fig. 4 is alvertical midsection which differs greater part of the length fromiFfig. Zonly in that it is or a fragmentary 'vidingfor slida bly mounting th d character andshows' in run lines thedispensi'n'g eccentric circular cam 21 so that the aforesaid ring 28 carries an turn with the rod, this cam having fitted around it an annular member 28 having inwardly directed rim portions 29 which, so far as vertical movements are concerned, maintain a fixed relation between the cam and an annular member, while permitting their relative rotation.

Said cam 21 is shown integral with an upwardly extending sleeve 30 which carries at its upper end a gear 3| shown as integral with the sleeve, it being understood that the gear and sleeve are also in a slidable, nonrotatable relation to the rod 2|. Said gear 3i is driven at a reduced speed by the motor l6 through the motor gear 32 and intermediate gears 33 and 34, the latter two gears being shown fixed to a shaft 38 upstanding from the motors extension 39.

The aforesaid annular member 28 carries a short, upstanding arm 31 which, by a link 38 is pivotally connected to the free end of a short crank arm 38a, in turn secured stub shaft 39 rockably carried by a bearing enlargement 36a and sleeve 36b (see Fig. 5) which project from the aforesaid motor extension 39, the opposite end of said stub shaft having secured to it a relatively long swingable arm 40. Said arm 40 has pivot holes 4011 and 4iib whereby it has adjustably pivoted to it the lower end of a link 4!, the upper part of said link being pivotally connected by a set screw 41a to a block 42 which is in a rotatable, non-slidable relation to the rod 21. Said block 42 is shown loosely fitted between upper and lower collars 42a and 4217 secured to the rod by set screws 42c. Said annular member 28 is shown carrying integrally a horizontal downwardly offset arm 45 which extends radially from its right side as viewed in Figs. 2 and 4. This arm travels in its groove 46 on a horizontal guide strip 41 formed on the upper face of the mounting plate 15. By this means said annular member 28 is compelled to follow a straight path during its cam produced movements.

As a means for operating additional parts, the outwardly inclined, upwardly directed boss or short arm 50 with which is pivotally connected the lower end portion of a link 52, the upper part of said link being pivotally connected to a cross arm 53. The opposite end of said cross arm is pivoted to the top of an arm or upstanding bracket 54 carried by the cover 55 of the already mentioned small container H. A short link 56' connects the midlength portion of said cross arm 53 with the upper end of a stem 51 carrying at its lower end a valve 58 which opens and closes a passage which leads from the container 11 to the underlying part of the bowl 8. Said stem 5'! operates through a guide arm 59, a compression spring 60 acting between said guide arm and the valve 58 normally to hold the latter in the closed position.

It will be seen that space is economized by mounting part of the gearing in a vertically superjacent relation to the motor Hi.

In the operation of the machine, after the bowl 8 has been supplied with a suitable quantity of the material to be chopped, then the base plate I, which carries the mounting plate I5 and the operating mechanism, is applied to the top of said bowl and is secured in place by screwing down the screws 12. Then, after the links 40 and 4| have been *pivotally connected to each other as shown (using pivot hole 40a or 40b if a longer stroke is desired), the motor is started. When the motor starts, through the gearing which has been described (which includes the large dr ven to one end of a gear 3!, in a slidable non-turnable relation to the rod 2|), the rod 2| will be continuously rotated, and with it will rotate the circular cam 21 which is eccentrically related to said rod. The rotation of said cam will cause a back and forth horizontal movement of the ring 28 which, by arm (or lug) 31, link 38 and crank arm 38a will rock the stub shaft 39. Rocking of said stub shaft will vertically swing the arm 40 which, through link 4! and block 42 will vertically reciprocate the rod 2| together with the chopping head 24. Hence it will be seen that said chopping head will be continuously rotated during its reciprocation, thus causing it to function efficiently as a chopper.

The aforesaid back and forth horizontal movement of the ring 28, through its arm or extension 50, the link 52 and cross arm 53 will intermittently operate the valve stem 51, thus feeding minor quantities of the salad oil i8 to the salad being chopped in the bowl 8.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the kind described, a supporting structure supportable on an otherwise open topped container when the latter is supported upon a horizontal surface, a vertical rod mounted upon said structure, a chopping head carried by said rod and positioned to chop material contained within said container, a circular cam eccentrically surrounding said rod in a slidable nonrotatable relation thereto, an annular member surrounding said cam in a rotatable relation thereto, motor driven means connected with said cam member to rotate the latter and thus impart a back and forth horizontal movement to said annular member, an operative connection between said annular member and rod which causes the latter to reciprocate vertically,

valve controlled means positioned to dispense minor quantities of a modifying substance to the material being chopped in the aforesaid bowl, and an operative connection between said annular member and the valve of the latter means intermittently to open and close said valve while the machine is in operation.

2. In a machine of the kind described, a supporting structure supported on an otherwise open topped container when the latter is supported upon a horizontal surface, a vertical rod mounted upon said structure, a chopping head carried by said rod and positioned to chop material contained within said container, a circular cam eccentrically surrounding said rod in a slidable nonrotatable relation thereto, an annular member surrounding said cam in a rotatable relation thereto, a sleeve in a fixed relation to said cam and surrounding slidable relation to said rod, gearing operatively connected with said sleeve continuously to rotate the latter together with said cam and thus impart a back and forth horizontal movement to said annular member, a motor mounted upon said supporting structure and operatively connected to said gearing, and an operative connection between said annular member and rod which causes the latter to reciprocate vertically while rotating.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, and said motor driven gearing comprising a driven gear concentrically secured to said sleeve and a train of gearing operatively related to said driven gear.

4. In a machine of the kind described, a supporting structure supportable on an otherwise open topped container when the latter is supported upon a horizontal surface, a vertical rod mounted upon said structure, a choppinghead carried by said rod and positioned tochop material contained within said. container, a circular cam eccentrically surroundingsaid rod in aslidable nonrotatable relation. thereto, .a.-.motor driven gear loosely surrounding said rod and operatively connected 'withlsaid cam to. rotate it together with said rod, a member mounted upon said rodina rotatablevnon-slidabl relation thereto, and means operatively connecting saidcam with said member'to cause saidrod to reciprocate while being rotated."

5. In a machine of the kind described, mounting means having a container whereon said mounting means is removably supported, thus providing an open space thereunder, a vertical rod extending slidably and turnably through said mounting means, chopping means carried by said rod in said open space, a member carried by said rod in a rotatable non-slidable relation thereto, said member being at all times considerably spaced above said mounting means, a circular cam spaced considerably below said member, said cam eccentrically surrounding said rod in a slidable, nonrotatable relation thereto, a motor carried by said mounting means gearing operatively connecting said motor with said cam to rotate it together with said rod, and means operatively connecting said cam with said member vertically to reciprocate the latter to cause said rod to reciprocate while being rotated.

6-. The subject matter of claim 5, and said means which operatively connects said cam with said member including a rockably mounted horizontal stub shaft having a crank arm fixed to one of its ends and a vertically swingable operating arm fixed to its opposite end, means operatively connecting said operating arm with said member, and means operatively connecting said crank arm with said cam.

7. In a machine of the kind described, the combination, with a support, a verticallyextending vertically reciprocable rod rotatably mounted upon said support, and a chopping member carried by said rod; of a sleeve mounted upon said rod in a slidable, non-rotatable relation thereto, a gear concentrically secured to said sleeve, a motor driven train of gearing including a gear meshing with said gear secured to said sleeve, a circular cam in a surrounding, eccentrically secured relation to said sleeve, and means operatively connecting said cam with said rod to reciprocate the latter during its rotation.

8. In a machine of the kind described, the combination, with a horizontal mounting plate, a vertically extending vertically reciprocable rod rotatably mounted on said mounting plate and extending slidably downwardly therethrough, and a chopping member carried by said rod below said plate; of a sleeve above said plate mounted upon said rod is a slidable, non-rotatable relation thereto, a gear concentrically secured to said sleeve, motor driven means including gearin operatively connected with said gear for its continuous rotation, a circular cam eccentrically secured to said sleeve superjacent to said mounting plate, an annular member having a working fit around said cam so that the rotation of said rod causes said cam horizontally to reciprocate said annular member, and linkage operatively connecting said rod with said annular member so that the horizontal reciprocation of the latter causes said rod to reciprocate vertically.

' 9. Ina machineot the kind described, a supporting structure supportablev on an otherwise open topped container when. the latter is supported upon a-horizontali surface, a vertical rod mounted uponsaid structure, a chopping head carried by said rod'and' positioned: to chop material' contained within said container, a circular cam eccentrically surrounding said rod in a slidablenonrotatable relation thereto, a motor drivenmeans operatively connected with said cam to rotate it together with said'rod, a member mounted'upon said rod in a rotatable nonslidable relation thereto, means operatively consaid cam intermittently to open and close the valve of said valve controlled means during operation of the machine.

10. In a machine of the kind described, the combination, with a support, a vertically extending vertically reciprocable rod rotatably upon said rod in a slidable, non-rotatable relation thereto, a gear concentrically secured to said sleeve, a motor driven train of gearing inmeans operatively connecting said cam with said rod to reciprocate the latter during its rotation, and a container mounted upon said support and furnished with an outlet passage to deliver a modifying liquid substance to the material being chopped, a valve carried by said container to control the outflow of liquid therefrom through said passage, and means operatively connecting said cam with said valve to open and close the latter during each rotation of said rod.

11. In a machine of the kind described, the combination, with a horizontal mounting, plate, a vertically extending reciprocable rod rotatably mounted on said mounting plate and extending slidably downwardly therethrough, and a chopping member carried by said rod below said plate; of a sleeve above said plate mounted upon said rod in a slidable, non-rotatable relation thereto, motor driven means operatively connected with said sleeve for its continuous rotation, a circular cam eccentrically secured to said sleeve superjacent to said mounting plate, an annular member having a working fit around said cam so that the rotation of said rod causes said cam horizontally to reciprocate said annular member, linkage operatively connecting said rod with said annular member so that the horizontal reciprocation of the latter causes said rod to reciprocate vertically, and a horizontally extending grooved guide member secured to the upper face of said mounting plate, and an arm rigidly secured to said annular member, said arm having a horizontal portion slidably fitted on the slide of said slide member to cause said annular member to travel in a straight horizontal path.

12. The combination, with a cover for a container; of an elongated mounting plate secured to and extending diametrically across the upper surupstanding from said motor and driven thereby, a driving gear axially secured to said shaft vertically above the space occupied by said motor, a vertical rod mounted upon and extending through the midlength portion of said mounting plate, a cam surrounding said rod in a thereto, a driven gear loosely surrounding said rod and operatively connected with said cam to rotate it together with said rod, a member mounted upon said rod in a rotatable non-slidslidable, nonrotatable relation 5 able relation thereto, means operatively connect- 10 ing said cam with said member to cause said rod to reciprocate while being rotated, and gearing carried by said mounting plate and operatively connecting said driving gear with said driven gear. I

MARY M. ALEXANDER.

-References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 79,678 Obrecht July 7, 1868 712,276 Edmonds Oct. 28, 1902 2,266,186 Fischer Dec. 16, 1941 2,389,816 Richardson Nov. '7, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,221 Great Britain Dec. 4, 1895 

